Army Excellence Newsletter 15 October
Orienteering
Team
Greenbush WI
Rugby Team (Women)
Poughkeepsie NY
Albany NY
Orienteering Team
Branford CT
The Orienteering Team traveled to Guilford, Connecticut to compete in The Bimbler's Bluff 50k trail race. Cadet Zachary March placed 1st in the open category and 5th overall with an impressive time of 5:24:35, Nick Lewis-Walls finished two minutes behind Zach and Alex Reiter finished one minute behind Nick ensuring they both placed in the top ten. The trail was steep, muddy and rocky making it a demanding course. Seven Cadets competed representing the Academy with several Cadets finishing their first Ultra Marathon.
Triathlon Team
Tempe AZ
Four West Point Tri Team cadets took their show on the road to Tempe, Arizona for the Soma Half-Ironman Triathlon this past weekend. With temperatures soaring well into the 90s, both the course and the cadets racing were en fuego. For Romedy Murr, Drew Webster, and Mark Freeman, this was their first half-ironman experience. However, a strong base of endurance training and racing gave them every reason to feel confident. Yet it was the long-distance veteran, Rob Sherry, that led the team through the swim and a majority of the bike. Racing his second half-ironman in four weeks, Rob fought through dehydration on the run for another sub-5 hour effort.
Drew Webster showed that his biking ability is as solid on the long-course as the short course. His 2:23:51 bike split for the 56-mile course was among the fastest in the entire race. He also showed improved form on the swim and run in finishing his first long-course in just over five hours. However, it was Romedy and Mark who would save their best for last and lead the team to the finish line. These Mississippi and Texas natives seemed to feed off the same heat that made their competition wilt. Running much of the 13.10mile run course in sight of one another, they passed the majority of their competition. Romedy kicked down the stretch to edge out Mark by three seconds, and his time of 4:46:00 was best in his age group and 53rd overall. All four cadets finished in the top 10% of male competitors. This race caped the fall season for the majority of the Tri Team. For Ashley Morgan and Bryan Lagasse, one race remains as they will travel to Clearwater, Florida for the Ironman 70.3 World Championships next month. Special thanks goes to Preston Miller, class of 1968, for hosting and supporting the team throughout the Soma Race Weekend.
Cycling Team
Richmond NY
On Saturday, October 24th, a small group from the West Point Cycling Team consisting of Joe Grimm and Greg Keith traveled to Richford, New York to compete in the Cornell-sponsored Red Cross Cyclocross Race. The rain and subsequent mud made for ideal cyclocross racing conditions. Early racers churned up the course, making many sections difficult to ride and slick. However, Firstie Joe Grimm found conditions optimal; he placed a very impressive first in the Men’s 3/4 Category out maneuvering the entire field.
Paintball
Highland NY
Nine members of the West Point Mil-Sim Paintball Club attended the Heartbreak Ridge game at Paintball Sports Inc in Plattekill, NY this past Saturday and Sunday. Instead of playing however, the Cadets served as referees for the two days of play. The Cadets are known throughout the North East as one of the best reffing squads around and the event producer wanted their assistance for the game. The Cadets were complimented for their even headed calls and response to developing situations on the field. On a side note, while traveling to the game Saturday morning, the Cadets came upon a traffic accident that had occurred about 2 minutes ahead of them. A driver had lost control of her vehicle hit a utility pole that now left live and arcing wires over the road. After removing their van from the situation and ensuring no one was left in the vehicle, the Cadets controlled traffic to prevent anyone driving into a live wire until EMS arrived and took control of the scene. The Cadets calm and coordinated actions kept anyone else from getting injured and allowed EMS to smoothly transition into the situation with minimal effort. The Cadets then found their way around the accident and continued to the paintball field.
Team Handball Team: Men
Chicago IL
First year player Rickey Royal turned head with his amazing speed and athleticism at the wing position. Goalie Dexter Wise played most of the minutes, but back-up goalie Tim Wagner contributed significantly with some key penalty shot saves.
Rugby Team
(home event)
West Points First XV vs. UConn Score: 100-0 Try Scorers: Ben Leatigaga (3x), Dave Geib (2x), Peter Belden (4x), Kevin Kerr (2x), Latu Vahai, Andrew Hansche, Trevor Mitchell (2x), Miles Rowan Conversions: Dom Latino (10 for 16) Leading Scorers: Dom Latino (20 pts.) and Peter Belden (20 pts.) Scoreline: Armys First XV played the University of Connecticut on October 24th at the Anderson Rugby Complex. Despite poor weather conditions, Army dominated all phases of the match and scored a 100-0 victory over the Huskies. To start things off, Armys wing Ben Leatigaga scored the first try only thirty seconds into the match by out running UConns back three around the corner and down the sideline. The next score would not be far behind. Only three minutes later, Army would threaten again when they stole the UConn scrum. Eight-man, Peter Belden, picked the ball from the back of the scrum and took it into the tackle where the ball was then moved to flyhalf, Dave Geib, who took a gap and ran fifty meters down the field for the try. Due to the weather conditions, both sides had trouble with knock-ons and other penalties. Following one such penalty, flanker Bobby ONeill took a quick tap around the 5m and shifted it to Geib, who put it in the hands of Leatigaga for the try. The Army pack proved their worth in the game by winning countless scrums from the opponent. On one such occasion, Belden picked the ball from the back of the scrum and beat the opposing scrum half and flanker around the open side and carried the ball the final forty meters for the try. Next, following a few phases of play, Kevin Kerr scooped up the ball from the back of a ruck around the UConn 22m and proceeded to break tackles and work his way through traffic for the try. After another scrum around midfield, Army attacked with a pick from Belden, moved the ball to Geib, who then moved down the field and opened space for Latu Vahai who took it in for the try. Minutes later, Army showed their strength in the scrums again when the Army pack pushed over the ball and Belden picked it from the back. He then moved it to Leatigaga, who took off down the sideline for the try. Another opportunity arose when Army was awarded a scrum on UConns 5m. The pack was able to push the UConn pack back all the way into the try zone where Belden tapped it down for the score. The final try of the half was scored by lock Miles Rowan who took the ball into the tackle and showed a good leg drive to get into the try zone. The second half proved to follow suit with the pace of the first half. The first try after the break was scored by Geib only two minutes in when he received the ball from Belden forty meters out. Army won another 5m scrum in UConn territory upon which Belden picked the ball and moved in for the try. After the ensuing kick-off, Vahai moved the ball to Kyle Palmer, the substitute at flyhalf, who broke through the line and moved down the sideline closing with UConns back three. Palmer then offloaded to prop, Andrew Hansche, who took the ball down the sideline and put it away for the try. After a few phases of open-field rugby, Hansche saw action again, this time moving the ball to Belden who scored his 4th try. Minutes later on a 5m scrum, the UConn kicker in his try zone bobbled the ball trying to clear his lines and lock, Kevin Kerr dove on the ball for his second try. The last two tries of the match were scored by scrumhalf Trevor Mitchell, who subbed in for Alex Farinelli at scrumhalf. The first try by Mitchell was scored by him moving around the breakdown from five meters out. The second was scored when he picked the ball from the ruck and found open space (40 meters of it) and ran it in for the try. Despite the wet conditions, Army played well against the UConn Huskies, winning scrums and lineouts at will, and finding plenty of open space in the defense to score tries. Next Match: Army vs. Boston College, October 31st at 1500 at the Anderson Rugby Complex.
Fencing Team
New York NY
The West Point Fencing Team's Epee Squad had their first external day of training and competition in NYC on Sunday 25OCT09. On the womens team, CDT Yeeun Youn and CDT Toni Oestmann gained their first wins of the season and their careers as West Point Fencers, and both advanced on to the direct elimination of 32. CDT Youn defeated her opponent to advance to the bracket of 16. On the mens side, CDT Mark Owens, CDT David Maynor and CDT Alex Pagoulatos all garnered wins to advance to the direct elimination of 32. CDTs Maynor and Owens also scored their first wins of their careers at West Point. Collegiate opponents for the men included St Johns and NYU, and for the women included Cornell and St Johns. All Cadets were highly praised for their aggressiveness, skill and good sportsmanship. They all came away with additional development of technique, various tactical skills to continue to work on, and a great test of their game that will win for them against their opponents.
Equestrian Team
Flemington NJ
The West Point Equestrian Team competed in a region-wide IHSA English show this past Sunday. The team did well, with one rider, Reggie Woronowicz (2011, F2) moving up to the top division for the first time. The team had 7 riders (almost half the team) place first or second in their class and several others with thirds and fourths. The next show will be hosted by USMA at Centenary College on October 31st. Outstanding Individual Cadet Accomplishments: Raquel Rascon (2010, B2) placed second in Intermediate Flat. Corinne Noble (2010, A2) won Novice Fences. Jessica Huggins (2011, A1) and Mariel Gallante (2013, F2) took first and second respectively in Advanced Walk/Trot/Canter. Naomi Fuhrman (2013, E4) and Laura Ramsey both won their class in Beginner Walk/Trot/Canter. Christine Jordan (2013, H2) placed second in her Beginner Walk/Trot Class.
Team Handball Team: Women
Chicago IL
The West Point Women’s Handball Team finished 2-2 on the weekend accomplishing a third place finish in the annual Chicago Inter Handball Invitational. Senior Alexandria Scott (D2) led the team in scoring putting up an astonishing 19 points throughout the tournament. Junior Abigail Bandi (H1) and Senior Joy Turner (B4) added 16 and 13 goals, respectively, in the team’s first tournament of the season. The Army goalies, Juniors Tjolanda Sullivan (H1) and Maria Kong (D2) cemented Army’s defense, during game play, combining for a total of 74 saves. The teams first of two losses came early in the weekend against Chicago Inter Handball Club, a Chicago based team comprised primarily of European-born players. Army rallied back after the defeat, though, in its next game crushing Furman University by double figures. Early Saturday evening, the women’s team suffered their final loss of the tournament to the Alberta Handball Club, the 2008 Women’s National Champions putting Army into contention for a third place game. In the first half of the third place match, Furman University pushed Army’s women to put up a tough defense tying the game on multiple occasions. Army finished the game though, 26-16, shutting down Furman with a basketball style man-on-man defense. Getting a top 3 finish in the first tournament was very important for the team, said senior team captain Amelia Storey (A3). I’m very proud of the way each player performed especially against a national championship team like Alberta. Army will face its next opponents October 30 - Nov 1 when the team heads down to University of North Carolina for the annual Tar Heel Classic.
Crew Team
Philadelphia PA
This past weekend the Army Crew team rowed in the Head of the Schuylkill Regatta in Philadelphia. Despite rainy weather conditions the team had a very strong showing. The women’s varsity four had a great race and finished 4th out of 22 boats in the club open division. The women’s novice eight did extremely well and earned a silver medal for their second place finish out of 12 boats. Placing 5th out of 33, the novice four also had a strong showing for the team. Outstanding results from the men included a 2nd place out of 30 boats from the men’s varsity eight in the club event and another silver medal for the novice four in their 15 boat race. The rest of the varsity teams rowed solid races to end the fall season with the varsity men’s four placing 12 out of 36, and the novice men placing 12 out of 29 boats. Next weekend the team travels to New Rochelle, NY for the Fall Metro Championships.
Climbing
New Paltz NY
Climbing Team Trip 25 October 2009 On the morning of October 25, 2009
just as the clouds were clearing up, fifteen cadets from the Climbing Team
rendezvoused in front of CGR at 0700 with the mission to explore and test
themselves on some boulder problems at the Gunks. The Team set out to
Peterskill a small climbing area maintained by the Minnewaska State Park
which provided them with a plethora of different boulders to pull down on.
The Team moved out to the area called The Quarantine. Here, the team had the
chance to get acquainted with the boulder problems ranging in difficulty
from V0 to V7. The V0 to V1 problems allowed for a warm up and to refocus
technique on the unique qualities of the Shawanagunk Rock. After about an
hour or two of warming up, the team broke off into groupsby skill level to
find problems in the V2 to V7 range. Many problems were attempted and some
even climbed without falling, these failures allowed for learning and a
change of strategy to solve the problem. As the sun got low in the sky a
number of folks headed over to the west side of Park to get in a couple more
routes in the sun. After a full day of climbing, the number of ascents for
each climber was from 10 to 30 problems, and folks were exhausted; everyone
had pushed themselves that day and been humbled. Overall it was an awesome
day of climbing; there were no injuries, lots of climbing, and an improved
understanding of the techniques of climbing. The Team returned to West Point
safely without any incidences.
Team Handball Team: Women
Chicago IL
The West Point Women’s Handball Team finished 2-2 on the weekend
accomplishing a third place finish in the annual Chicago Inter Handball
Invitational. Senior Alexandra Scott (D2) led the team in scoring putting up
an astonishing 19 points throughout the tournament. Junior Abigail Bandi
(H1) and Senior Joy Turner (B4) added 16 and 13 goals, respectively, in the
team’s first tournament of the season. The Army goalies, Juniors Tjolanda
Sullivan (H1) and Maria Kong (D2) cemented Army’s defense, during game play,
combining for a total of 74 saves. The teams first of two losses came early
in the weekend against Chicago Inter Handball Club, a Chicago based team
comprised primarily of European-born players. Army rallied back after the
defeat, though, in its next game crushing Furman University by double
figures. Early Saturday evening, the women’s team suffered their final loss
of the tournament to the Alberta Handball Club, the 2008 Women’s National
Champions putting Army into contention for a third place game. In the first
half of the third place match, Furman University pushed Army’s women to put
up a tough defense tying the game on multiple occasions. Army finished the
game though, 26-16, shutting down Furman with a basketball style man-on-man
defense. Getting a top 3 finish in the first tournament was very important
for the team, said senior team captain Amelia Storey (A3). I’m very proud of
the way each player performed especially against a national championship
team like Alberta. Army will face its next opponents October 30 - Nov 1 when
the team heads down to University of North Carolina for the annual Tar Heel
Classic.
